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Warne fined in what is likely to be parting blow

Shane Warne has words with the umpire after James Faulkner bowled a no-ball off the last ball during the BBL semi-final match between the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Stars. Photo: Robert Cianflone

In what looks like being the final controversy of his playing career, Shane Warne has been fined $5000 for breaching Cricket Australia's Code of Behaviour.

He was in hot water for his actions during the BBL semi in Perth when all-rounder James Faulkner was listed on the Stars' team sheet as captain and took part in the coin toss with Scorchers skipper Simon Katich.

Warne was in trouble for his team's slow over rates and could have been suspended for the final if his team was tardy again in the semi. Warne had previously been issued with one strike for a slow over rate violation, with a second strike this season resulting in an automatic one-match suspension.

He was found guilty of breaching Rule 5: Laws of Cricket and Spirit of the Game by CA Commissioner Arthur Lodge.

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However Warne tweeted that he was unaware of the law, and that had he known he would have acted differently.

"If I was aware of the law/rule I would have tossed the coin, to me I should have been informed & made aware by management!" he tweeted.

BBL teams were sent a memo last month by Cricket Australia. Under the heading “Over Rates”, the memo stated that “If a team's official captain is selected but not named as captain, this will be considered against the Spirit of Cricket and may attract a Code of Behaviour charge.”

Warne tweeted that he was disappointed that he was fined, rather than the Stars, because he was never informed of the amendment.

"This issue is for CA & stars management wether it was a memo or a law. It was never passed on to me,if it was this wouldn't have happened!"

"Lastly, their is a process from CA to the Stars then to the captain, that's the chain of command & the process... Be good if someone told me.

"Ps without banging on, I know the laws of the game but if there is an amendment from CA which is sent to the stars, they have to inform me!"

Although he has not officially announced the recently completed Big Bash League would be his swan song, it is believed the 43-year-old is all but certain to retire after leading the Melbourne Stars to the semi-finals of the second instalment of the BBL.

The spin king was not present at the hearing. He was represented by Melbourne Stars chief executive Clint Cooper and team manager Ben Robertson.